New teasers arrive for 40k with Roboute Guilliman and the Adeptus Custodes defending Terra as it is invaded by Daemons in the advancing storyline for 8th Edition Warhammer!
One lucky hobbyist got an early look at the new codex book, and now we’re seeing some of the new storylines for Warhammer 40k and the Adeptus Custodes.
An overleaf from the Codex: Adeptus Custodes, with Gulliman right middle at the Lion’s Gate of the Imperial Palace
All hands were on deck to repel the Daemonic incursion.
It is not clear what the details are for the Custodes sallying forth from Terra exactly yet, but it appears that after the battle the Palace is safe (at least for the time being).
Rules pics for the new codes have been spotted over on our Facebook Group, so be sure to check them all out and see what other hobbyists have to say about the new golden boys of 40k!
Here’s our roundup of all 27 Strategems, as well as the latest on various other rules from the book as well that were not covered in the images from the codex above
First, let’s take a look at the new units and some new weapon profiles.
- Castellan Axes for Custodian Wardens are STR 8, -2AP, and D3 Damage. Wardens have 4 attacks.
- Misericordia knives cost 4 points and give an extra attack.
- Custodian Guards have 3 wounds and plenty of weapon options. They cannot equip a guardian spear and stormshield. They can have a guardian spear or a sentinel blade and stormshield.
- Custodes Guard Box can give you three different units. You can have 3 Guards, a Shield Captain, and a Vexilus Praetor. See below for the vexilus banner abilities.
- Custodes have a 6+ ignore during the Psychic phase.
Abilities
Vexilus Praetors will also have access to three different vexillas to choose from.
Relics & Objectives
- Praetorian Plate Relic: Terminator model only. When setting up the bearer, choose a friendly Imperium character. At the end of your opponents Charge phase, if there is an enemy unit within 1″ of the character, you can remove the bearer from the field even if they were not on the field and set them up within 3″ of the character and within 1″ of the enemy model. The bearer is not considered to have charged.
- Auric Aquilas Relic: Biker model only. Given to a Shield Captain on Jetbike and gives them 3+ invulnerable and re-roll charge rolls.
- Auric Shackles Relic: Your opponent must subtract -1 from the Attacks characteristics of enemy characters within 6″ to a minimum of 1. In addition, in missions using victory points, if bearer slays the enemy warlord in the Fight phase, you gain additional D3 victory points.
- There are three relic Vexilus banners: Wrath Angelus allows you to call down an orbital bombardment. The Fulminarus Aggressor essentially shoots lightning bolts and can be used as a melee weapon. Faith Absolute is the last and allows the bearer to attempt to deny the witch. (pictured above is the Vexillas)
- The Obliteratum Relic: a relic grenade launcher that replaces ballistus grenade launcher and upgrades it to Assault 1, STR 10, -4AP, D3 Damage.
- Trajan Valloris has Champion of the Imperium Warlord Trait: this allows other friendly Custodes units in your army make Heroic Interventions as if they were characters.
- Emperor’s Companion Warlord Trait: re-roll the dice for damage that your Warlord inflicts.
- Radiant Mantle Warlord Trait: gives -1 to all hit rolls that target your Warlord.
- Eagle’s Eye: Improve this model’s invulnerable save to a maximum of 3+.
- Peerless Warrior: Each time you make a 6+ hit roll for your hero in the Fight phase, they can make an additional attack with the same weapon against the same unit.
- Superior Creation: Each time your Warlord loses a wound, roll a dice. On a 5+, that wound is ignored.
- Impregnable Minds: Your Warlord can attempt to deny the witch once in each of your opponent’s Psychic phases. If they attempt to do so, add +1 to their test.
Stratagems
These are the Stratagems that were previewed throughout the week and during the live stream as well. So far we’ve seen 27 new Stratagems, which according to GW that’s the exact amount that will be coming in the new codex.
- Sentinel Storm Stratagem: For 2CP, at end of opponent’s Shooting phase, choose a friendly Custodes unit within 1″ of an enemy. That unit can shoot with its Sentinel Blades as if it were the Shooting phase.
- Open the Vaults: For 1CP/3CP, you can equip up 2 more relics.
- Castellan Strike Stratagem: For 1CP, use this strat in the Fight phase on a friendly Custodees unit. As long as more than 1 model is armed with a castellan axe and they are targeting the same unit, that axe is improved to -3AP until the end of the phase.
- Vexilla Teleport Homer: For 3CP, us this strat at the end of any of your Movement phases. When you set up a teleporting Custodes unit at the end of the phase, you can set it up wholly within 6″ of a Vexilus Praetor that is already on the battlefield and 3″ away from enemy models.
- Unflinching: For 1CP, Overwatch hits on a 5+ instead of a 6+.
- Victor of the Blood Games Stratagem: Choose a Custodes character before the battle begins. That character receives 1 free re-roll in each turn.
- Tanglefoot Grenade: For 1CP, at the beginning of your opponent’s Movement or Charge phase, choose an enemy unit within 12″ of a Custodes Infantry unit. Roll a D6. That enemy unit must subtract the result from the Movement or Charge distance until the next phase.
- Indomitable Guardians: For 1CP, use in your opponent’s Fight phase after an enemy unit has Charged and fought. Choose a Custodes unit that is within 3″ of an objective marker and fights with it next.
- Burst Missile Net: For 1CP, use in your Shooting phase when using Vertus Praetors. If they all fire Flak Burst missiles at the same target with the Fly keyword, they can re-roll failed wound rolls for those attacks.
- Inspire Fear: For 1CP, adds +1 to opponent’s morale tests.
- Spark of Divinity: for 1CP, use this when an enemy psyker manifests a power within 12″ of a Custodes Biker or Infantry unit. You can deny the witch as if they were a psyker.
- Plant the Vexilla: For 1CP, at the end of your Movement phase, choose a Vexilla Praetor. As long as he does not move, you can increase the range of that Vexilla’s ability by 6″ until the next Movement phase. You cannot charge.
- Eyes of the Emperor: For 1CP, if you get a tactical objective you do not want, you can discard and get a new one.
- Bringer of the Emperor’s Justice: For 1CP, when a Custodes’ unit’s hit roll is 6+, you generate an extra attack with the same weapon against the same target.
- Ever Vigilant: For 2CP, use this strat after your opponent has set up a unit that has come on to the field as reinforcements within 12″. You can shoot at them as if it was the Shooting phase with a -1 to hit.
Points & Gear Loadouts
- Custodian Guard w/ Guardian Spear costs 52 points each. They cannot equip axes. So, a unit of 3 Custodian Guards is 156 points.
- Shield Captain w/ Guardian Spear costs 122 points. He has 6 wounds, Toughness 5. Friendly Custodes units within 6″ of him can re-roll hit rolls of 1. A Shield Captain on a Dawneagle jetbike will cost 160 points and have 7 wounds and Toughness 6. In Allarus Terminator Armor, he will have 7 wounds and Toughness 5.
- Trajann Valoris costs 250 points. He has 7 wounds, STR 5, Toughness 5. He has a 3+ invulnerable save and friendly Custodes units within 6″ of him can re-roll hit and wound rolls of 1.
- Vertus Praetors have STR 5, Toughness 6, 4 wounds. They cost 90 points each and come with hurricane bolter and interceptor lance. You can have a salvo launcher replace the hurricane bolter to bring the total cost to 105 points. They have 4 attacks. A unit of three bikes is 270 points.
- Interceptor Lance: STR +1, -3AP, D3 Damage. You can re-roll failed wound rolls made with this weapon on the turn the bearer made a successful charge.
- Custodian Wardens are elites and clock in at 61 points with guardian spear or 64 points with castellan axe. They have 4 attacks.
All in all these latest previews have revealed a slew of content from the upcoming Adeptus Custodes codex.What are your thoughts on the latest Adeptus Custodes previews? Are you going to be playing this army when the new Codex comes out? Let us know in the comments below.
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
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Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
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About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
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